The Big Creative UK Summit series returns for 2026
// create growth programme // event
Steph McGovern, West of England Mayor Helen Godwin, Marverine Cole, Stephen Welton and more to celebrate the creative industries at The Big Creative UK Investment Summit in February
This February, The Big Creative UK Investment Summit returns to celebrate the extraordinary investment potential which lies within the UK’s creative industries, with a day of impactful business spotlights, panels and live pitching to investors.
The Summit, taking place at King’s Place, London on 17 February 2026, will build on the success of last year’s sold-out edition, and will feature an expo of 50+ creative businesses.
During The Summit, investors will be able to connect with creatives from across UK regions to explore the opportunities offered by creative industries businesses – a sector that was identified by Government as a priority growth sector in last year’s Modern Industrial Strategy.
The Summit’s rich programme includes an all-day interactive expo of creative businesses, as well as panels and keynotes exploring topics from regional investment through to foreign direct investment into the UK’s creative sector, the central role of IP in the creative industries and spotlights on successful creative businesses. The day will end with a drinks reception sponsored by Summit Major Partner, Amazon.
Confirmed speakers include host, Steph McGovern (award-winning journalist and broadcaster), Helen Godwin (West of England Mayor), Marverine Cole (multi-award winning journalist and broadcaster), Shriti Vadera (Co-Chair of Creative Industries Council), Stephen Welton (Non-Exec Chair of British Business Bank), Karim Palant (Director of External Affairs, BVCA), Fran McIntyre (Managing Director at Innovate UK Business Connect) and Ida Levine (Board Director, Impact Investing Institute) with more to be announced.
The full-day programme will showcase the impact of both the Create Growth Programme – an investment readiness programme for creative businesses; and the North East Culture & Creative Investment Programme which offers equity and loans to creative businesses in the North East.
One day prior to The Summit, on 16 February, Creative UK will bring together international creative entrepreneurs to take part in a curated International Networking and Industry Insights Day, connecting global creative leaders with the UK’s creative industries, investment landscape, and collaboration opportunities. This international delegation will be supported by British Council and sponsored by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT).
In addition to the national Summit event, regional Summits are also being held in 2026.
A West Midlands Summit will be held on 10 February 2026 at the Birmingham Rep Theatre; the West Yorkshire, North East and Hull & East Yorkshire Summit will be held on 3 March at Leeds Playhouse; and the Cornwall & Devon Summit will take place on 4 March 2026 at the National Maritime Museum Cornwall. More details around these events will be confirmed shortly.
Tickets and up to date programme information for the national summit can be found here: https://investment.wearecreative.uk.
The Summit is proudly brought to you by Creative UK and Headline Partner, UK Research and Innovation, through Innovate UK and the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC).
The Summit is held in partnership with Summit Major Partners: Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), Amazon, Create South East, North East Combined Authority, West Yorkshire Combined Authority, West Midlands Combined Authority, Create Growth N2 and West of England Combined Authority, with more to be announced.
Our International Delegation is supported by International Delegation Major Partner, British Council and sponsored by International Delegation Partner, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT).
The Summit is also brought to you by Summit Partner, Creative Growth Hull & East Yorkshire.
The power of the sector and the impact of regional programmes
The creative industries are an economic powerhouse, growing at more than twice the rate of the economy at large, and accounting for 5.7% of UK GVA.
In 2023, creative industries services exports made up 12.7% of all UK services exports, and 7.8% of total UK exports (both goods and services).
They are also major employers, responsible for 2.4 million jobs, or 7% of the whole economy.
Programmes such as the Create Growth Programme are designed to stimulate this growth further. Originally launched in 2022 by the UK Government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in partnership with Innovate UK, the Create Growth Programme is designed to support creative businesses to explore and secure commercial investment opportunities in 12 English regions.
Commenting on the Summit, Caroline Norbury OBE, Chief Executive, Creative UK, said:
“Visibility of the creative industries as a powerful economic sector has improved significantly in the last ten years, however, it is still lags behind many other sectors when it comes to securing investment. Our Summit aims to change this by introducing investors to some great creative businesses that have taken part in the Create Growth Programme.
“During last year’s sell out Summit I felt the excitement and buzz in the room. Politicians, stakeholders, investors and a hugely diverse array of creative sector businesses mixed freely. They were all there for the same reason: to explore the potential and return of our world-leading creative industries. I know that this year we can do even more.”
Commenting on the Summit, Creative Industries Minister Ian Murray said:
“We are committed to making the UK the best place to run a creative business, no matter where you’re based, and a crucial part of that is ensuring there are ample investment opportunities up and down the country.
“Through government initiatives like the Creative Places Growth Fund, we want to put power back into our regions to allow them to level up their creative industries and tap into the potential that is all around the UK.”
Commenting on the Summit, UKRI Sector Champion for the Creative Industries Professor Christopher Smith said:
“The UK’s creative industries are an essential engine of the growth we need for the future of our society and the economy.
“That’s why UKRI has confirmed a record investment in creative industries research and innovation, and in delivering this we’ll work closely with businesses, creatives and investors.
“I’m looking forward to hearing from people from across the sector at this year’s Creative UK Investment Summit about how we can work together to build and improve on this national success story.”
Commenting on the Summit, Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle said:
“The UK’s Creative Industries are a global engine of innovation and growth — generating £124 billion for our economy and supporting over 2.3 million jobs. As a cornerstone of our modern Industrial Strategy, the sector drives creativity, competitiveness, and opportunity.
“This year’s Creative UK Investment Summit will showcase the very best of British creativity and give companies new opportunities to scale up and succeed.”
Commenting on the Summit, Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said:
“The national Big Creative UK Investment Summit is a real opportunity to highlight the West’s world-leading creative industries, ahead of launching our £25 million Creative Places Growth Fund. Culture is such a big part of who we are and I’m excited to share more about how our part of the world is innovating to support creatives, building on our recent Citizens’ Assembly backed by over 100 cultural organisations. The Creative Industries are a key part of our Growth Strategy for the next ten years, with ambitious targets for the future after the strongest job growth in the sector anywhere in the country over the last decade.”
Commenting on the Summit, Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, said:
“This region is fast becoming the creative capital of the UK. It’s alive with big ideas and unbelievable talent, and I’m backing it all the way.
“Almost 100 innovative businesses and individuals have benefitted from funding and expert support from our Create Growth programme to turn their new ideas, products and services into growing businesses. It’s creating exciting new jobs on our doorstep in sectors such as film, TV, gaming, virtual reality and sustainable fashion.
“My Growth Plan will unlock even more potential for these vibrant sectors and propel local people with creative flair onto the global stage, further strengthening our region’s international reputation.”
Commenting on the Summit, Frank Horsley from Create Growth N2 said:
“CGN2 is delighted to support the Summit for a second year and we look forward to another inspiring and enjoyable day. Since the launch of our programme, our partnership has supported over 240 creative and digital sector businesses and we are proud to showcase seven of our amazing founders in London, demonstrating what a diverse and truly thriving and imaginative creative culture we have across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. The rebel city and county of legends is a hidden gem for investors and entrepreneurs alike and we are determined to demonstrate our vibrancy and potential on both the national and global stage.”
Notes to Editors
About Creative UK:
Creative UK is the national membership body for the Cultural and Creative Industries. We exist to champion creativity in its widest form – representing world-leading organisations from sectors as diverse as advertising, animation, architecture, broadcasting, crafts, design, digital, education, fashion, games, heritage, museums, music, performing arts, photography, publishing, theatre, TV, visual art and more.
We are an independent not-for-profit, which uses the insight and experience of our members to help shape relevant government policy and advocate for meaningful change. Change that will benefit UK businesses, citizens and communities.
Our vision is a world where creativity is valued and recognised as the driving force for our future.
We’re so passionate about this that we put our money where our mouth is: through own landmark investment funds, we’ve directly invested millions of pounds into creative businesses over the last decade.
Our team is based across the UK, and we work closely with Local and Combined Authorities to support creative talent, whilst delivering hands-on support – spanning business diagnostics, mentoring and investment readiness.
Our Filming in England service is a dedicated and bespoke production service to feature film and high-end TV productions looking to film in England, outside of London.
About UK Research and Innovation
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is the largest public funder of research and innovation in the UK, with a budget of around £9bn. It is composed of seven disciplinary research councils, Innovate UK and Research England.
Our mission is to advance knowledge, to improve lives and to deliver growth.
We operate across the whole country and work with our many partners in higher education, research organisations, businesses, government, and charities.
www.ukri.org
About Innovate UK
Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation, is the UK’s innovation agency. It works to create a better future by inspiring, involving and investing in businesses developing life-changing innovations. Its mission is to help companies to grow through their development and commercialisation of new products, processes and services, supported by an outstanding innovation ecosystem that is agile, inclusive and easy to navigate.
About AHRC
The UKRI Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) invests in the examination of our past, the understanding of our present and the imagination of our future. By championing creativity, enabling critical thinking and sharing cultural insights, we drive growth across the creative economy, strengthen the UK’s global leadership, and help shape a more prosperous, resilient and connected society. Our funding supports people, infrastructure, wherever ideas are made and performed, informs public policy, and enriches lives, placing arts and humanities at the heart of science for all.
